Today is Good Friday, a day where people all around the world remember and reflect on the death of Jesus Christ that took place over 2,000 years ago. Jesus’ death wasn’t an accident nor was he a martyr. His death was an atoning death by which he started to put the world back together again. … Continue reading Good Friday Reflection
God will create a better future. The future will be different than the past. Our ultimate hope lies in the future return of Christ and the promise that, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more mourning, crying and pain will be no more” (Revelation 21:4). Good will triumph … Continue reading Life is Not Fair, But God is Good (Pt.6)
God can bring good out of our pain. God can use it for a positive purpose. Adversity can bring out untapped depths of character and faith. Beethoven was at his zenith, a well-known, respected, loved composer in Vienna. Then, tragedy of tragedies, his hearing began to go. A degenerative disease destroyed his hearing until he … Continue reading Life is Not Fair, But God is Good (Pt.5)
The Denial (Mark 14:27-31, 66-72) The theme of abandonment overshadows many of the Stories Around the Cross. Jesus was abandoned by betrayal (Judas), by indifference (the disciples sleeping three times in Gethsemane), and by denial and desertion (Peter and the Twelve). When Jesus needed them the most, his friends left him alone. They all participated … Continue reading Stories Around the Cross – The Denial
God is also just. Belief in God’s sovereignty alone is not enough to get Job through his terrible suffering. Job also believes that God is just. God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. This is the belief of double retribution, which according to Harley, declares that “the righteous are always blessed and the wicked … Continue reading Life is Not Fair, But God is Good (Pt.4)
God did not create the world “bad”. God did not create the world the way it is today. When the world was created it was “good” (Gen.1-2). There was no pain or suffering. It was a paradise. But man rebelled against God’s commands and sin came into the world. We now live in a damaged, … Continue reading Life is Not Fair, But God is Good (Pt.3)
There are many examples of suffering and pain: Moral evil relates to choices that people make that end up hurting others. This includes things such as violence, abuse and war – all which cause much pain – and the slaughter of innocent people, such as occurred in the Holocaust. At the office, it could … Continue reading Life is Not Fair, But God is Good (Pt.2)
The question of pain and suffering is one of the most difficult issues to address of any area of human life. At some point in our life journey, we ask, “If God is good, then why does he allow such terrible suffering and pain to exist?” Despite many attempts throughout the centuries, there are no … Continue reading Life is Not Fair, But God is Good (Pt.1)
Here is some wisdom from Proverbs 4. Vs.1. Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. Vs.4-5. Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them." Vs.10. Listen, my … Continue reading Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap
As we move towards Easter, let's take a look at the supper from Mark 14:12-26. Part of our God-given humanity is the instinct to celebrate significant moments with significant meals (e.g. Christmas, birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries). Sharing a meal bonds a family, a group of friends, a team, a collection of colleagues together. The meal says more than … Continue reading The Supper
Mountain top and valleySunshine and rainCalm and stormEase and pain Joy and sorrowHope and disappointmentLaughter and tearsKnown and unknown Darkness and lightNight and daySummer and winter Blue skies and fog Confidence and fearFaith and doubtAnswers and questionsLost and found Enemies and friendsAcceptance and rejectionApproval and shameSin and forgiveness War and peace Unity and conflict High and low Life and … Continue reading Life’s Journey
At another crossroadsSo many optionsDestination competitionLoud voicesMultiplicity of signs Stay on the same courseOr make a turn?Popular highwayOr the road less travelled? Moving fastTrying to read the mapTraffic congestionImportant decisions Take a pit stopPull out of the raceJust for a momentCatch your bearings Where have you been?Where have you come from?Where are you now?Pin point … Continue reading Crossroads
Once upon a time there was this cute girl named Nicole. She launched out on this adventure called life and our paths intersected 30 years ago. She is now my best friend and my climbing companion. I can’t wait to see the joy that is just around the next corner for both of us. Happy … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Nicole
This weekend, I made the following announcement to my church family - CityLife Church. Obviously, it was a surprise to many, while not to others. There is a degree of sadness with any change like this but I am also encouraged by the amount of support I have received. [Watch on You Tube] I have … Continue reading Announcement about Mark Conner’s Future
A holidaying American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on … Continue reading The Fisherman and the Businessman
